Re-Sentencing For Ex-Long Branch Cop In Pedestrian Death

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A former Long Branch police officer was sentenced Wednesday for striking and killing a pedestrian on September 22, 2017.

Jake Pascucci, 31, of Long Branch was sentenced by a Middlesex County Superior Court judge to eight months in the county jail.

Pascucci pleaded guilty on April 3, 2018 to strict liability vehicular homicide in the third degree and driving while intoxicated in the death of Karen Borkowski, 66, of Stanhope.

Police say he hit and killed the woman as she attempted to cross Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch in September of 2017. He was off duty at the time. Borkowski was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash.

Pascucci was originally sentenced on June 28, 2018 to serve 364 days in the county jail as a condition of five years of probation to be served upon his release. He was also sentenced to 30 days for driving while intoxicated, which was to run concurrent to the county jail time.

However, he appealed his sentence and the judge stayed the custodial portion of the sentencing pending that appeal.

He forfeited his public employment with the Long Branch Police Department and lost his driving privilege for three months.

Initial Patch report: Long Branch Cop Sentenced To Year In Jail For Pedestrian Death (January 2018)